On June 2, 2016, this photo was taken of the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Clinton, Illinois. (Photo by John Dixon/The News-Gazette via AP)
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has signed a long-term agreement to power its growing artificial intelligence (AI) operations using nuclear energy. This 20-year deal with Constellation Energy will boost the output of the Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois, reflecting a rising trend among tech giants seeking cleaner and more stable energy sources.
The Clinton plant, once at risk of closure due to financial troubles, will now see new life. In 2017, it was rescued by a state initiative in Illinois that provided financial support for clean energy sources. This support program is set to expire in June 2027—the same time Meta’s deal kicks in. Once the agreement begins, the plant will increase its energy output by 30 megawatts.
This move will not only help power Meta’s AI and data systems but will also preserve around 1,100 local jobs. The project is expected to generate about $13.5 million in tax revenue each year for the area. Currently, the Clinton plant provides electricity to nearly 800,000 homes in the U.S.
Urvi Parekh, who leads Meta’s global energy strategy, stated that clean and steady energy sources are critical for the company’s AI expansion goals.
Meta is not alone in this shift. Other tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are also turning to nuclear energy to fuel their rapid growth in AI and data centers. In fact, Microsoft is eyeing a restart of the Three Mile Island nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania—once the site of the country’s worst nuclear accident back in 1979. This move would support its rising data power demands.
Amazon and Google have already taken similar steps. Amazon announced investments in small nuclear reactors last fall. Around the same time, Google also shared its plans to back nuclear energy, and just last month, it committed to funding three advanced nuclear projects through a partnership with Elementl Power.
This growing interest in nuclear power is also changing the political landscape. In 2023, 25 U.S. states passed laws to support advanced nuclear technologies. And in 2024 alone, lawmakers have introduced over 200 new bills aimed at making nuclear energy more accessible and appealing to private companies.
These efforts come at a time when the U.S. is grappling with energy goals of its own. While the White House hopes to dramatically increase nuclear power production in the next 25 years, the reality is more complex. Currently, no next-generation nuclear reactors are in commercial operation, and only two new large reactors have been built in the last half-century. These were completed far behind schedule and ran over budget by more than $17 billion.
While nuclear power is gaining favour, major tech companies aren’t putting all their eggs in one basket. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft continue to invest heavily in wind and solar energy as well—looking to maintain clean energy portfolios that meet both performance and environmental standards.
Meanwhile, Constellation Energy’s stock remained steady on Tuesday, unaffected by the announcement.
